Screening for obstructive sleep apnea before coronary angiography

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sleep Medicine
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) prevalence in patients with suspected coronary heart disease (CHD) requires clarification.
• This study investigated OSA prevalence prior to coronary angiography (CAG).

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of OSA in patients undergoing CAG for suspected CHD.
• To assess the relationship between OSA severity and CHD severity.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective evaluation of 327 patients undergoing CAG between July 2019 and July 2021.
• OSA screening using home sleep apnea tests; CHD severity assessed by Gensini score; OSA severity by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).

Main Results:

• OSA prevalence was 87.2% in the CHD group and 69.0% in the non-CHD group (P < 0.01).
• Higher AHI was observed in the CHD group (18.76 ± 14.94) vs. non-CHD group (11.56 ± 10.67) (P < 0.01).
• An AHI ≥ 20 was a significant risk factor for CHD (OR: 1.961, P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• OSA is significantly more prevalent in patients with CHD than in those without.
• Increased OSA severity, indicated by AHI, correlates with greater coronary artery obstruction.
• Pre-CAG OSA screening and management are crucial for patients with suspected CHD.